Family Immigration Legal Services

Please select the relationship that best describes your situation:

Most immigrants gain permanent residency through their family relationships to U.S. citizens. However, not every family relationship qualifies, and each relationship offers different levels of immigration benefits.

Immediate Relatives

Immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens are afforded the most immigration advantages by the U.S. immigration service (formerly INS).  Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are:

• Spouse of U.S. Citizen
• Fiancé(e) of U.S. Citizen
• Minor, Unmarried Child of U.S. Citizen
• Parent of U.S. Citizen Over 21 Years Old

Preference Category Family Members

Family members who are not immediate relatives are assigned one of four family preference categories.  Each preference category has a statutory limit on the number of immigrants that are allowed into the United States each year.  Due to this limitation, qualifying family members will often need to wait until their visa preference date is reached before being able to become green card holders.  The visa preference date is updated monthly by the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.

First Preference

• Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizen

Second Preference

• Spouse of U.S. Permanent Resident
• Child of U.S. Permanent Resident

Third Preference

• Married Child of U.S. Citizen

Fourth Preference

• Siblings of U.S. Citizen